Friday, April 27, 2012

Joel Osteen on Mormonism

Joel Osteen, who has one of the largest congregations in America, has said in this recent interview that he believes Mormons are Christians because they believe in Jesus. Is this true? Are Mormons Christian?

Brigham Young himself issued a challenge

"Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it and see if it will stand the test," (Brigham Young, May 18, 1873, Journal of Discourses, vol. 16, p. 46.)

So we need to do that! What Beck, said we would normally hear in our churches every Sunday. The question is whether the Mormon Jesus, is the same as the Jesus of the bible. Here we will see it is a entirely different Jesus.

The Jesus, of Mormonism is a created being and the spirit brother of Lucifer (Jesus is the literal spirit-brother of Lucifer, a creation (Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15).

This could not be further from the truth when we look at sacred scripture where we see Jesus is eternal, immutable and the creator of the universe:

1-(Colossians 1:15-17)

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

2- (John 1:1-3 ESV)"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made."

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."

The bible is clear that Jesus is not some created, dependent being, but rather the eternal creator and sustainer of the universe. While Mormonism teaches Lucifer, and Jesus, are brothers, the bible says Jesus, is the CREATOR of Lucifer and Lucifer's very existence depends on the eternal, unchanging Son of God

Mormons says that God sent his son, but who is the Father in Mormonism?

1-"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see," (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345).
2-"The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's," (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22; Compare with Alma 18:26-27; 22:9-10)."

3- "Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and bones," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38).

"He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16-who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen."

According to this verse no one ever has. Or can see God the Father.

4- Exodus 33:20But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

5-John 1:18"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known"

6-1 John 4:1"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

These verses contradict what Mormon theology teaches about the Father.

Lastly, Mormonism teaches that there are more than one God:

1- The trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. "That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35)

2-"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see," (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345)

3 -Bruce McConkie states that God became a God by being saved by obedience to laws.
"The Father is a glorified, perfected, resurrected, exalted man who worked out his salvation by obedience to the same laws he has given to us so that we may do the same," (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1985, p. 64).

If this is true then the Father was once like we are now and himself would have needed a creator to bring him into existence. However Holy Scripture is clear that there is only one God in existence:

1-Isaiah 43:10"Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me."

2-Isaiah 44:6"I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.

In conclusion it is clear that Mormonism and Christianity are NOT the same and the Mormon doctrine of God is COMPLETELY different from the historic Christian faith.

I did not write this to bash Mormons because I love them and have family (Who are probably reading this) who are Mormons yet I love them dearly.

However I do not love Mormon theology because it's teachings on the doctrine of who God is are opposed to and an enemy of Holy Scripture.

Pray that God would let you encounter Mormons so we can share the gospel of grace with them. Warn your Christian friends so they are not deceived or confused by the similar language Mormons use but import different meanings into the words.

I Love Mormons, I am not anti-Mormon, but I do believe we need to speak out and let people know it is a different gospel.

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